Weather Safety
Contents
- TORNADO SAFETY
If this tornado was approaching, would you know what to do? Tornadoes are the most violent atmospheric phenomenon on the planet. Winds of 200-300 mph can occur with the most violent tornadoes. The following are instructions on what to do when a Tornado Warning has been issued for your area or whenever a tornado threatens:- IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS: Go to the basement
(if available) or to an interior room on the lowest floor,
such as a closet or bathroom. Wrap yourself in overcoats
or blankets to protect yourself from flying debris.
- IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, FACTORIES, OR SHOPPING CENTERS:
Go to interior rooms and halls on the lowest floor. Stay
away from glass enclosed places or areas with wide-span
roofs such as auditoriums and warehouses. See the left
figure below for an example of where to go in a school. Crouch
down and cover your head as shown in the right figure.
- IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS: Go to interior small rooms
or halls. Stay away from exterior walls or glassy areas.
- IN CARS OR MOBILE HOMES: Abandon Them Immediately!
Most deaths occur in cars and mobile homes. If you are
in either of those locations, leave them and go to a
substantial structure or designated tornado shelter. The
picture at right illustrates clearly what a violent tornado
can do to a car.
- IF NO SUITABLE STRUCTURE IS NEARBY: Lie flat in the
nearest ditch or depression and use your hands to cover your head.
- IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS: Go to the basement
(if available) or to an interior room on the lowest floor,
such as a closet or bathroom. Wrap yourself in overcoats
or blankets to protect yourself from flying debris.
- FLASH FLOOD SAFETY
Do you know what to do if you see water crossing over a roadway? Flash floods and floods are the number one weather-related killer with around 140 deaths recorded in the U.S each year. In the picture at right, the man and his child were swept away in their truck by water flowing over a roadway, before being rescued at the last minute.Flash flood safety rules:
- WHEN INSIDE:
- If ordered to evacuate or if rising water is
threatening, leave immediately and get to higher ground!
- If ordered to evacuate or if rising water is
threatening, leave immediately and get to higher ground!
- IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS:
- Go to higher ground immediately! Avoid small
rivers or streams, low spots, canyons, dry riverbeds, etc.
- Do not try to walk through flowing water more
than ankle deep!
- Do not allow children to play around streams,
drainage ditches or viaducts, storm drains, or other flooded areas!
- Go to higher ground immediately! Avoid small
rivers or streams, low spots, canyons, dry riverbeds, etc.
- IF IN A VEHICLE:
- Do Not Drive Through Flooded Areas! Even if it looks shallow enough to cross. The vast majority of deaths from flash flooding are due to people driving through flooded areas. Water only one foot deep can displace 1500 lbs! Two feet of water can EASILY carry most automobiles!
- WHEN INSIDE:
- LIGHTNING SAFETY
Do you know what to do if you are caught in the open during a thunderstorm or you feel tingling or your hair standing on end?
Lightning causes around 100 deaths in
the U.S. annually (more than hurricanes and tornadoes combined).
In the photo at left, the young woman and her friends were severly injured by
lightning just a few seconds after this picture was taken. Notice that no rain
was falling, clearly illustrating that lightning can
strike up to several miles away from the thunderstorm.
- WHEN INSIDE:
- Avoid using the telephone (except for emergencies) or
other electrical appliances.
- Do not take a bath or shower.
- Avoid using the telephone (except for emergencies) or
other electrical appliances.
- IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS:
- Go to a safe shelter immediately! such as inside a
sturdy building. A hard top automobile with the
windows up can also offer fair protection.
- If you are boating or swimming, get out of the water
immediately and move to a safe shelter away from the water!
- If you are in a wooded area, seek shelter under a
thick growth of relatively small trees.
- If you feel your hair standing on end,
squat as shown in the diagram at right with your head between your knees.
Do not lie flat!
- Avoid: isolated trees or other tall objects, bodies of water, sheds, fences, convertible automobiles, tractors, and motorcycles.
- Go to a safe shelter immediately! such as inside a
sturdy building. A hard top automobile with the
windows up can also offer fair protection.
- WHEN INSIDE:
- WINTER STORM PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY
Do you know what to do if you are trapped in the middle of a blizzard? If a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for your area, that means that hazardous winter weather conditions (such as snow greater than 6 inches in 12 hours) are expected in the next 12 to 36 hours. You should prepare for the worst now.
- AT HOME OR WORK MAKE SURE YOU HAVE:
- A working flashlight
- A battery powered NOAA Weather Radio, radio, or TV
- Extra food, water, medicine, and baby items
- First aid supplies
- Heating fuel (propane, kerosene, fuel oil, etc.)
- Emergency heating source
- Fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and a carbon monoxide detector
- IN CARS AND TRUCKS:
- Fully check and winterize your vehicle
- Keep your gas tank near full
- Try not to travel alone
- Let a friend or relative know your timetable for travel
- Carry a Winter Storm Survival Kit which contains:
- blankets/sleeping bags
- flashlight with extra batteries
- knife
- high calorie, non-perishable food
- a small can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water
- sand
- shovel
- windshield scraper
- tool kit
- jumper cables
- water container
- compass
- road maps
- ON THE FARM:
- Move animals to sheltered areas
- Haul extra feed to nearby feeding areas
- Have a water supply available (most animal deaths in winter storms are from dehydration)
If a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for your area, dangerous winter weather conditions are expected or are already occuring.
- IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE:
- Find a dry shelter. Cover all exposed parts of the body.
- Find a dry shelter. Cover all exposed parts of the body.
- IF STRANDED IN A CAR OR TRUCK:
- Stay in your vehicle!
- Run the motor about ten minutes each hour. Open the windows a little for
fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure the exhaust pipe is
not blocked.
- Make yourself visible to rescuers:
- Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine
- Tie a colored cloth to your antenna or door
- Raise the hood after the snow stops falling
- Exercise to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.
- Stay in your vehicle!
- AT HOME:
- Stay inside!
- If there is no heat:
- Close off unneeded rooms
- Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors
- Cover windows at night
- Eat and drink non-alcoholic beverages. Food provides the body with energy and heat. Fluids prevent dehydration.
- Wear layers of loose-fitting, light-weight, warm clothing.
- Stay inside!
- AT HOME OR WORK MAKE SURE YOU HAVE:
